PM refuses SC judges' suggestions to amend interim statute

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has refused to receive the suggestions put forward by the Supreme Court Judges seeking amendments to the interim statute.According to sources, PM Koirala twice turned down Chief Justice Dilip Kumar Poudel’s request to meet him to submit the draft of the suggestions.The Chief Justice had requested an appointment with the PM yesterday evening and this morning.Sources added that the prime minister refused to meet the CJ due to his “busy schedule”.A meeting of the SC justices earlier this week had unanimously decided to ask the political parties to amend the judicial provisions in the interim constitution after they found some of the provisions "insufficient for ensuring judicial independence."Last Sunday, a meeting of the SC's Full Court, which is the apex-policy making body of the judiciary, hammered out a 13-point suggestion to amend the judicial provisions in the interim constitution. The suggestions relate to the appointment of the chief justice, impeachment, formation of the Constitutional Council, Judicial Council, the oath taking process of the CJ, and SC’s annual report publication, among others.